The Oklahoma City Zoo is proud to announce a new
conservation initiative partnership with the Jatun Sacha (pronounced Jah-tomb
Sah-chuh) Foundation in Ecuador, South America. A $20,000 donation has been awarded to
assist in the building of a wildlife management center. Guests from Ecuador
representing the program will be at the Zoo Tuesday, October 9 to meet Zoo
staff and share with the public about their efforts in conservation. The Zoo
aids in numerous local, national and international conservation projects annually.

Tuesday, October 9

GUESTS:

Dr. Ivan Villarreal, CEO Jatun Sacha Foundation

Geovanna Coello Fernandez, Program Volunteer Coordinator

Translators provided by Santa Fe South High School.

Schedule

9:00 to 11am: Zoo tours

1:15 to 2pm: Presentation to Zoo staff in Education
Auditorium

7pm to 8:30pm: FREE Public Lecture in the Education
Auditorium (located at the east end of the Zoo’s parking lot)

CONSERVATION PROGRAM OBJECTIVES AND BACKGROUND:

The main objective is to establish the Center for
Wildlife Management at Jatun Sacha Biological Reserve, which will be a refuge
for endangered species bred illegally for hunting. The center will
provide a safe home for the native animals and serve as a research center to
study the natural behavior of these species.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:

Develop a center for wildlife management focusing on
wildlife management and animal breeding.

Enable an animal rescue center that serves as a refuge for
illegally bred animals and their subsequent reintegration into the wild.

Create a space suitable for breeding of those species that
have become endangered due to hunting, thus contributing to the reproduction
and repopulation of these species.

Establish a program to assist sick and injured endangered
animals, while raising awareness and providing education on this issue.

Develop research projects regarding the biology of these
species with a focus on maintaining biological viability.

ISSUES & THREATSTO
ECUADOR’S WILDLIFE:

Illegal wildlife trafficking is one of the most serious threats to
biodiversity and impacts the entire ecosystem. Such traffickers capture
and collect live specimens, animal parts, or animal products. These
animals and products are destined for pet stores or as expensive furs and
exotic dishes in restaurants worldwide. Domestic trafficking targets a much
wider array of species, as the domestic black market exists for almost any wild
animal that can be illegally sold as pets, for sport, in collections of all
kinds and in fueling demand for skins and animal protein in different markets
across the country. Expansive domestic black market trafficking is more
damaging to the environment than foreign trafficking, as domestic traffickers
destroy almost all plant and animal populations that are within an affected
area.

In Ecuador, there are no comprehensive studies pertaining to the volume and
nature of illegal animal trafficking and related illegal possession. This
information vacuum complicates attempts to address the problem, as those who
want to prevent illegal trafficking do not have accurate information to assist
them in focusing their efforts. In this context, Jatun Sacha Foundation is
committed to establishing the Center for Wildlife Management at Jatun Sacha
Biological Reserve to help achieve this new initiative and bring biodiversity
conservation to Ecuador.

The Zoo is a fully accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the American Association of Museums (AAM) as both a living museum and a botanical garden. AZA accredited facilities are dedicated to providing excellent care for their plants and animals, a great experience for guests and a better future for all living things.

A New Breath of Fresh Air: As of Nov. 1, 2007, state law prohibits smoking inside zoological parks. Please help us abide by this law by refraining from smoking within the Zoo. Thank you for maintaining a smoke-free environment for all living things!